Leading Ladies Happy Birthday Houston
HOUSTON, TX — The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park and co-host Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston will celebrate Houston’s 189th birthday with an afternoon of free historic tours, special exhibits and youth-led festivities on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at 1100 Bagby St., starting at 1:00 p.m.
“We want every Houstonian — young and old — to feel the energy of our city’s history,” said Alison Bell, executive director of The Heritage Society. “This year’s celebration brings together engaging exhibits, hands-on tours and our next generation of leaders in a fun, educational way.”
The family-friendly event opens with free admission to the museum gallery, where visitors can explore three exhibits: Coastal Cowboys, the Texas America250 exhibit from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and the University of Houston’s Latino cARTographies digital board. From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., guests can tour two landmark homes — the 1847 Kellum-Noble House and the 1823 Old Place — before gathering in the gallery.
Houston Area Youth Council on Service -Happy Birthday Houston
“This event brings together those who want to learn about the city’s past, the city chairs who shaped the city’s present along with honoring two active Leading Ladies and the Houston Area Youth Council on Service who volunteer across numerous nonprofits including The Heritage Society,” said McKinney.
The pep rally and an educational program on the city’s origins, capped by a color guard ceremony from the Heights High School Junior ROTC in honor of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary starts at 3:00 p.m. City Council and County members will cut a giant birthday cake at 3:30 p.m. after some inspiring speeches. The decadent cake is sponsored by one of the oldest bakeries in Houston, the 1949 Three Brothers Bakery.
At 4:00 p.m., noted local historian Mister McKinney of Historic Houston will host a free downtown tour aboard the Houston History Bus. Registration is available in person at the gallery; participants will be asked to follow @MisterMcKinneysHistoricHouston before boarding.
The Heritage Society is also kicking off the celebration to merge with America’s semiquincentennial countdown. “We’re thrilled to reveal the new traveling America250 exhibit to our community,” Bell said. “It’s a great way for Texans of all ages to learn about our region’s role in the American Revolution.”
All attendees will be entered into a drawing for a weekend stay with brunch at the C. Baldwin Hotel. Charlotte Baldwin Allen, known as the Mother of Houston, suggested at a dinner party that the city bear Sam Houston’s name and later invested in its downtown developmen
Houston’s official birthday is August 30, but organizers invite everyone to join the party a week early. For more information and to RSVP, visit www.heritagesociety.org/happy-birthday-houston.
